Drewy

Thomas sounds like a early morning activity. Have you try mowing with " round up" works a treat. I guess when we choose to live in these type environments we need to plan for the worst case senario, and hope it doesn't happen, unfortunatlly with the Australian Bush it happens way to often, and it takes years to rebuild. regards Drewy

Thanks Frank I call it an overnight bag. Still there both not big enought to put your fave books in when in a hurry, suit case with wheels will be required if the occassion reoccurs. Drewy

Glen Ion Iddriess spent some of his youth around this district (Narrabri & Moree) I've never read his books, but will have a look out for them. One chap at work deals second hand books on the side will ask him to keep an eye out. Always like a read that is inspiring. regards Drewy

G day Whirly, good to see another Australian on IFI. There is a great wealth of info here as well as advice when required. Australia also has a few blacksmithing groups which you can get in touch with. It's not a huge community here, but we generally share what ever we have. Next month the Artist Blacksmiths of NSW is holding forging in July, with a international smith leading the weekend. Regards Drewy

Can someone tell me what is a bug out bag, it's been mentioned a few times, now curious.

We normally don't get quakes (1969) was last one. we are four hours off the coast and 400M above sea.level, so no tidal waves, but we do have the threat of bush fires. And sizable floods, when we are not in drought. mother nature never try and tame her, just live by her laws.

I have been blacksmithing for nearly thirty years, for most of that time I only had half a dozen books, with Otto Schmirler "the smithy's craft and tools" being my fave for many years (wore out the pages). Its only recently I've been able to purchase the bulk of my blacksmithing libruary, thanks to the likes of Artisan Ideas and Amazon. At least we have outlets that sell these books and can replace most titles fairly easily.

I must agree with biggun saving photo's very important, I've got lots of photo's of me with my anvil, powerhammer, various tools etc, all worth saving. I have reviewed my evacuation plan and moved the book case beside the front door.

Last night we had two earth quakes M4.3 strike about 50km from home, house shook abit so we ran onto the street and hung around outside for about hour. My wife asked what would you save, and I replied wife and kids first, then my collection of blacksmithing books which totals around 75 books. The first I would grab are- . The Art of Traditional Blacksmithing A Norwegian Perspective. To The Core by Alfred Bullermann Intuitively Creative Metalworking Design The Skill of the Blacksmith Vol 1&2 by Mark Asprey I feel if these were the only ones I saved, I would have a good reference point for ideas and skills design. Interested to hear what others would save and why???

Sad to hear of the passing of Alan Ball recently, Alan's battle with motor neurone's disease (Lou Gehrig's disease) came to an end. Alan legacy for Australian blacksmithing was second to done, always trailblazing in his endevours and ventures in the pursuit of all things metal. regards Drewy and all the boys in Tamworth

One bit of advice I ofter Begineers who want to improve quickley is to as I call it "cut your teeth" making certain items. Mine was split links and hammer wedges for spiking hammers, I made what seemed thousand, always maintaining a high quality finished forging. You soon get your eye in and develop rhythm. You need to fine an article that is saleable such as S hooks etc, so your time might have $$$$$ reward. Its a bit like a golfer at the driving range smacking off buckets of balls, not necessarily playing the game, but investing time in practicing all the right shots over and over. Good luck and may the forge be with you.

If we are going to travel in convoy, I want to be known as "rubber duckie" or "big red fella". Hang about Suttons Forest isn't that where Ivan Milat use to meet his victims???

Dale instead of lining the route with balloons and signs, could you use Glenn's hammer and tongs, as he has a shed full and some. regards Drewy

if you note the last part of my question is " if thats ok with Glenn"

just looked it up on google maps, no worries

can you organize some signs that glow in the dark, some of us will be late arrivals

Dale can you post the dates for get hammered, I know it's October. Could you also post a mud map of how to get from Braidwood to Glenn's place, if thats ok with Glenn. regards Drewy

Six weeks ago I had a weekend garage sale and sold 25 pairs of tongs, they hadn't been used in years and I needed the money for my overseas trip. Blacksmithing tools are as good as money in the bank if your prepared to part with them and cash them in, I've still got around 100 pair and really only use 25 pair most of the time. So my wife would call them dust collectors, with a $$$$ value attached.

Andrew sound like a great event, would love to be part of it, but I'm going os for a month the following weekend, can't do everything. Good luck hope the weathers fine and the crowds are plentiful, look forward to reading about the day on IFI. regards Drewy

There are good examples of Fish Mouthing been used in an artistic form in the book "From Fire To Form" on pages 21 and page 30. Tom Joyce made these large forged elements at Scots forge several years ago.

Tim I remember when I first moved to the city (Sydney) in the early 80's and working in railway blacksmiths shops where there were around 25 different nationalities, countrys I had never heard of, and accents of all dialects. Been a country boy at heart this was a real culture shock. It taught me to be more tolerent of different cultures, to the point that I married a foreign girl. The joke in our house hold was my son asked what is he as his mother is lebanese and my mob are Irish I told him, that's easy son your a" Lebrachorn" ha ha.

larry here in Australia we have a beer called XXXX (pronouced four X) they say we don't know how to spell beer and this is how we spell it. From all the x's in your above post I reckon you would really enjoy the flavour.

well I'm finally convinced and converted H.....A......are never to be mentioned again, from now on fish lips/mouths are the only terms used in this shop.

Patrick search the B******** word for that type of file. This is the best explaination I could find. I liked reading your post, explained point in a very profession manner. When used for a file the word b******** means irregular, in other words, a file that can neither be classified as a 'coarse file' or as a 'second cut file'. so why didn't our fore fathers call it an "irregular file"?? sounds much nicer than the latter. Industry is full of oddities, whether it be the slang they use or the processes that are involved in that trade. Blacksmithing is no exception, this is what makes it truely unique and different to other industries. regards Drewy

horse's xxx, cutting the tit of a piece of steel, using a hot set, and finally finishing it of with a barstard file, are all socially unexceptable words, but on any given day they can be used in an offical trade paper exam, as they are industry terms. Would love to here some others on IFI.